Chipata

Last updated
Chipata
City
Chipata
Chipata View.jpg
Chipata Coat of Arms.jpg
Seal
Zambia adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Chipata
Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 13°38′43″S32°38′47″E / 13.64528°S 32.64639°E / -13.64528; 32.64639
Country Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia
Province Eastern Province
District Chipata District
Founded1898;126 years ago (1898)
City status2017
Government
 • Type Local Government
 •  Mayor George Mwanza
Area
 • Urban
59.44 sq mi (153.94 km2)
Elevation
3,875 ft (1,181 m)
Population
 (2022)
 • City327,059
 • Density501/sq mi (193.4/km2)
 •  Metro
327,059
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
Area code +260 216
Climate Aw

Chipata is a city and administrative centre of the Eastern Province of Zambia and Chipata District. It was declared the 5th city of the country, after Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone, by President Edgar Lungu on 24 February 2017. The city has undergone rapid economic and infrastructure growth in the years, leading up to city status. [1] [2]

Contents

Location

Chipata is located on the Great East Road, approximately 570 kilometres (354 mi) east of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. [3] This is about 150 kilometres (93 mi) west of Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi. [4] The geographical coordinates of Chipata are 13°38′43.0″S, 32°38′47.0″E. [5] The average elevation of Chipata is 1,181 metres (3,875 ft), above sea level. [6]

Overview

Having a modern market, a central hospital, shopping malls, a university, some colleges and a number of schools, Chipata is the business and administrative hub of the region. The town boasts a four star hotel, a golf course, an airport, and a "welcome arch". Developed areas includes Kalongwezi, Moth, and Little Bombay.

Chipata is the regional head of the Ngoni of Zambia. The Ngoni adopted the languages of the tribes they conquered, so Chewa and Nsenga are the principal languages, although Tumbuka and English are widely spoken, plus some Indian languages, as a large number of Zambian Indians live in the town. It is located near the border with Malawi, and lies on the Great East Road which connects the capitals Lilongwe 150 kilometres (93 mi) to the east, [4] and Lusaka 570 kilometres (354 mi) to the west. [5] It is a popular access point for the South Luangwa National Park.

History

Chipata's name comes from the Chewa word "Chimpata" meaning "large space", in reference to the town's situation in a shallow valley between hills. The name of the central neighbourhood of Kapata, the original centre of town, comes from the Chewa word meaning "small space."

Chipata was formerly known as Fort Jameson (and informally as "Fort Jimmy"), being named after Sir Leander Starr Jameson, the 19th-century British politician and adventurer. Even during the colonial period, few supported that Jameson, who is mainly known for his part in the infamous Jameson Raid, fully deserved the honour of having any town named after him. Like 'Fort Manning' and 'Fort Rosebery', Fort Jameson was called a "fort" because the local government offices, or "Boma", were once fortified.

Fort Jameson was the capital of the British protectorate of North-Eastern Rhodesia between 1900 and 1911.

During World War II, 80 Polish refugees escaping from German- and Soviet-occupied Poland, were admitted in Fort Jameson in 1941. [7]

Government

The mayor of the city of Chipata is the head of the city government.

Population

With a population of about 455,783 in 2010, [8] the Chipata district is believed to be the 3rd largest district of the country. The city of Chipata had 116.600 inhabitants in 2010. [9] The predominant ethnic groups in the city are the Chewa, Tumbuka, Ngoni and Nsenga. [10]

Economy

Saturday Market in Chipata Chipata side street.JPG
Saturday Market in Chipata

Chipata is the primary transport hub for trade between Zambia and Malawi. "Down Shops" is Chipata's bustling down-town area, most shops and other businesses having proprietors of Indian origin. Two notable shops are Kavulamungu Bargain Centre, and Ally & Sons.

Tourism

The Nc'wala ceremony of the Ngoni people takes place at Mutenguleni on the outskirts of Chipata. The ceremony celebrates the first fruits harvest and is usually held at the end of February. [1]

Radio Stations

The city has five domicile Radio stations Namely;
• Breeze Fm
• Smooth 90.1fm
• Feel free Radio
• 3fm
• Radio Maria

Hospitality

Chipata has five Hotels and several guest houses and lodges dotted across the city that meets international standards. Some of the notable places of accommodation in Chipata include Protea Hotel a three-star Hotel that has been in the city for over 10 years. Crystal Springs Hotel about 1.5km away from town centre as you go towards Malawi is another Hotel with excellent Conference Halls and Swimming pool facilities. It has been in operation for over 25 years. Nyamfinzi Hotel, Fort Jameson and Luangwa House operated by Hostels Board of Zambia.

Other notable guest Houses and Lodges include;
• Dean's Hillview Lodge
• Eastern Comfort Lodge
• Pineview Guest House
• La Rochelle
• Franklin Gardens
• Jemita Guest House
• Dredel Lodge
• Travel Lodge
• Golf Rest House
• Chiwayu Guest House
• Yanja Lodge
• Mama Rula's campsite
• Kigelia Campsite
• Mwana Chanda Lodge
• Mukels Lodge
• Fort Young's Lodge
• Chikhute Guest House
• Wise Donkey Guest House
• Roadside Guest House
• Sunnyside Lodge
• Katuta Lodge
• Crossroads Lodges
• Gloka Guest House
• Calmrest Lodge
• Mercury one Lodge
• CTV Lodge
• Streamside Guest House
• Chipata Motel
• VNT Motel
• Tilandile Guest House
• Murphy Guest House
• Hom's cottage
• Rombando Executive Lodge
• Chansolo Lodge
• Malent
• Escape view Lodge
• New Horizon view Lodge
• Eastlands Lodge
• Redmont Guest House
• Chatowa Lodge
• Kum'mawa Lodge

Transport

Bus and taxi stop shelter on Great East Road A Bus and Taxi Stop Shelter.jpg
Bus and taxi stop shelter on Great East Road

Rail

An extension of the Sena railway, connecting the city of Chipata to the territory of Malawi (via Mchinji) was opened in August 2011. [11] Chipata will now act as the Zambian railhead and entry point from Malawi and beyond. In the pipeline since 1982, the short link, about 35 kilometres (22 mi), provides a through-route for rail traffic from Zambia via Malawi to the Indian Ocean deep-water port at Nacala in Mozambique. [12] The route and alignment of the line has been laid out, including the site of Chipata station and the basic station building. [13]

The route will provide an alternative to two existing rail routes to the Indian Ocean, at Dar es Salaam and Beira. In 2015 it was proposed to build a rail link to Serenje, a town on the TAZARA Railway line. [14]

Road

The T4 road (Great East Road) connects Chipata with Lusaka to the west (570 kilometres away) and the Mwami border with Malawi to the east (20 kilometres away). [15]

The M12 road connects Chipata with Lundazi to the north (100 kilometres away). [15] The D104 road connects Chipata with Mfuwe and the South Luangwa National Park to the north-west. [15] The D128 road connects Chipata with Chadiza to the south-west. [15]

Rivers

Chipata has four major streams pouring into the Luangwa river. The Luangwa river rises in the Lilonda and Mafinga Hills in north-east Zambia at an elevation of around 1500 meters near the border with Tanzania and Malawi, and flows in a southwesterly direction through a broad valley. [16] The water from the streams and the Luangwa river is used for farming by the inhabitants around the district.

Soil and Vegetation

There are three main soil types namely Acrisols, Fersiallitic soils, and Lithosols. There are four vegetation types, the main one being the Brachystegia (Miombo) woodland and Munga vegetation types.

Climate

Chipata features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) [17] with distinct wet and dry seasons. Summers are characterized by warm to hot temperatures, reaching peak values in October and November. Winters are milder, with July being the coolest month. The wet season, from November to March, experiences high humidity and significant rainfall. The dry season, from May to October, is marked by minimal precipitation. [18]

Climate data for Chipata (Msekera Research Station) (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)36.1
(97.0)		39.2
(102.6)		34.0
(93.2)		35.3
(95.5)		33.2
(91.8)		32.2
(90.0)		32.2
(90.0)		34.9
(94.8)		39.4
(102.9)		40.0
(104.0)		39.5
(103.1)		39.0
(102.2)		40.0
(104.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28.5
(83.3)		29.0
(84.2)		29.0
(84.2)		29.0
(84.2)		28.4
(83.1)		27.0
(80.6)		26.6
(79.9)		28.8
(83.8)		32.1
(89.8)		33.5
(92.3)		33.4
(92.1)		30.2
(86.4)		29.6
(85.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)23.7
(74.7)		23.8
(74.8)		23.6
(74.5)		22.8
(73.0)		21.3
(70.3)		19.6
(67.3)		18.9
(66.0)		21.1
(70.0)		24.4
(75.9)		26.4
(79.5)		26.8
(80.2)		24.7
(76.5)		23.1
(73.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)18.9
(66.0)		18.6
(65.5)		18.2
(64.8)		16.6
(61.9)		14.2
(57.6)		12.2
(54.0)		11.2
(52.2)		13.4
(56.1)		16.7
(62.1)		19.3
(66.7)		20.2
(68.4)		19.2
(66.6)		16.6
(61.9)
Record low °C (°F)12.8
(55.0)		13.2
(55.8)		11.8
(53.2)		9.7
(49.5)		5.8
(42.4)		3.3
(37.9)		4.0
(39.2)		3.7
(38.7)		7.2
(45.0)		11.3
(52.3)		12.8
(55.0)		13.3
(55.9)		3.3
(37.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)268.0
(10.55)		226.3
(8.91)		209.5
(8.25)		32.3
(1.27)		5.8
(0.23)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.2
(0.01)		0.1
(0.00)		17.3
(0.68)		80.9
(3.19)		248.3
(9.78)		1,088.6
(42.86)
Average relative humidity (%)80.781.578.872.164.459.855.948.942.745.256.675.463.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 158.1148.4201.5234.0266.6258.0260.4275.9276.0269.7216.0167.42,732
Source: NOAA (humidity, sun 1961–1990) [18] [19]

Schools & Colleges

Primary education

Secondary education

Chizongwe Secondary Technical School Chizongwe Secondary School.jpg
Chizongwe Secondary Technical School

Tertiary education

Suburbs

See also

Related Research Articles

This article is about the Transport in Zambia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lilongwe</span> Capital city and largest city of Malawi

Lilongwe is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It has a population of 989,318 as of the 2018 Census, up from a population of 674,448 in 2008. In 2020 that figure was 1,122,000. The city is located in the central region of Malawi, in the district of the same name, near the borders with Mozambique and Zambia, and it is an important economic and transportation hub for central Malawi. It is named after the Lilongwe River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zomba, Malawi</span> Place in Southern Region, Malawi

Zomba is a city in southern Malawi, in the Shire Highlands. It is the former capital city of Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blantyre</span> Place in Southern Region, Malawi

Blantyre is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, and its second largest city, with a population of 800,264 as of 2018. It is sometimes referred to as the commercial and industrial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe. It is the capital of the country's Southern Region as well as the Blantyre District.

Mchinji is a town and the capital of the Mchinji District in the Central Region of Malawi. Mchinji Boma, located 12 kilometres from the Zambian border and 109 km (68 mi) from the national capital, Lilongwe, is the major hub of government and general business. It has a major railroad junction, being the railhead nearest to Zambia. The area's economy is sustained by rain-fed agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Region, Malawi</span> Region of Malawi

The Central Region of Malawi, population 7,523,340 (2018), covers an area of 35,592 km². Its capital city is Lilongwe, which is also the national capital. The region has an outlet on Lake Malawi and borders neighbouring countries Zambia and Mozambique. The Chewa people make up the majority of the population today.

Lilongwe is a district in the Central Region of Malawi. The capital is Lilongwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ntcheu District</span> District of Malawi

Ntcheu is a district in the Central Region of Malawi. It borders with the country of Mozambique. The district headquarters is Ntcheu, known as BOMA in the local language, but is most commonly called Mphate. It is run by Yeneya, the village headman. The district covers an area of 3,424 km.² and has a population of 659,608 people according to the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census. The Ntcheu district lies around halfway between Malawi's majors cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe - the capital city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mpika</span> Town in Zambia

Mpika is a town in the Muchinga Province of Zambia, lying at the junction of the M1 Road to Kasama and Mbala and the Tanzam Highway to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in the north-east and Lusaka in the south-west. It also has a railway station on the TAZARA Railway about 5 kilometres (3 mi) away. Mpika is situated between the Muchinga Escarpment to the east and vast miombo plains to the west. The town has an estimated population of 40,000 inhabitants (2008), while the district population is estimated at 150,000 inhabitants. Since Mpika District was the biggest district in Zambia before its division in 2017, the population density was less than 4 people per square kilometre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great East Road</span> Major road in Zambia

The Great East Road is a major road in Zambia and the main route linking its Eastern Province with the rest of the country. It is also the major link between Zambia and Malawi and between Zambia and northern Mozambique. However, the route does not carry as much traffic as many of the other regional arterial roads and between the main cities it serves, Lusaka and Chipata, it passes through rural and wilderness areas. In Lusaka the road forms the main arterial road for the eastern suburbs. The entire route from Lusaka to Chipata and the border with Malawi is designated the T4 road on Zambia's road network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petauke</span> Town in Eastern Province, Zambia

Petauke is a town and seat of Petauke District located in the Eastern Province of Zambia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Province, Zambia</span> Province of Zambia

Eastern Province is one of Zambia's ten provinces. The province lies between the Luangwa River and borders with Malawi to the east and Mozambique to the south, from Isoka in the northeast to the north of Luangwa in the south. The provincial capital is Chipata. Eastern province has an area of 51,476 km2 (19,875 sq mi), locally shares border with three other provinces of the country and is divided into fifteen districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lusaka Province</span> Province of Zambia

Lusaka Province is one of the ten provinces of Zambia. Its capital is Lusaka, which is also the national capital. It is the smallest province in Zambia, with an area of 21,896 km2. Lusaka is also Zambia's most populated and most densely populated province, with a population of 3,079,964 and density of 140 persons per km2 as of 2022. It is the most urban province, with the most doctors and fewest malaria-related incidents. The province is bordered by Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and separated by the Lower Zambezi National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Zambia</span> Overview of and topical guide to Zambia

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Zambia:

Zambia, officially known as the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. The capital city is Lusaka, located in the southeast of the country. The population is concentrated mainly around the capital and the Copperbelt to the northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chipata District</span> District in Eastern Province, Zambia

Chipata District is a district of Zambia, located in Eastern Province. The capital lies at Chipata. As of the 2010 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 455,783 people.

Investrust Bank Plc., commonly known as Investrust Bank, is a commercial bank in Zambia. It is licensed by the Bank of Zambia, the central bank and national banking regulator.

DMI–St. Eugene university is a multi-campus private university in Zambia, that is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka. The university is administered by the Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

Mwami is a town in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The town lies at the international border with Malawi, adjacent to the Malawian city of Mchinji.

Zongendawa Jere or Inkosi Ya Makhosi M'mbelwa IV was the King of the Ngoni and Tumbuka people in Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. He passed away in February 2013 at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Malawi's commercial city, Blantyre, where he was diagnosed with diabetes attack and hypertension. At his death, he was 60 years old. His son, M'Mbelwa V, inherited the crown in 2013.

References

  1. 1 2 Mwendabai, Darlington (25 February 2017). "Chipata: Newest city on the hills". Zambia Daily Mail . Lusaka. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  2. ↑ "Times of Zambia". 2020-05-30.
  3. ↑ Globefeed.com (22 November 2018). "Distance between Lusaka, Zambia and Chipata, Zambia". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 Viajes Con Mochila (September 2015). "Traveling through Zambia with backpack. Chipata to Lilongwe (it´s only 150 km)". Nomad-as.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Location of Chipata, Zambia" . Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  6. ↑ Floodmap.net (22 November 2018). "Elevation of Chipata, Zambia". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  7. ↑ Wróbel, Janusz (2003). Uchodźcy polscy ze Związku Sowieckiego 1942–1950 (in Polish). Łódź: Instytut Pamięci Narodowej. p. 137. ISBN   978-83-7629-522-0.
  8. ↑ Central Statistical Office Zambia (14 November 2018). "The Population of Chipata in 2010". Citypopulation.info Quoting Central Statistical Office Zambia. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Largest cities of Zambia retrieved 20 June 2019
  10. ↑ University, Africa EENI Global Business School &. "Study in Chipata (Oriental province, Zambia)". Africa EENI Global Business School & University. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2020-05-26.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ Afrol Staff Writer (21 September 2011). "Zambia, Malawi finally connected by rail". Kroderen, Norway: Afrol.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  12. ↑ News Agencies (26 August 2007). "New rail link to boost Southern African trade". Mail&Guardian Online. Archived from the original (Archived from the original) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  13. ↑ Google. "Location of Chipata Railway Station" (Map). Google Maps . Google.
  14. ↑ Community News (3 August 2017). "Chipata-Tazara railway project hits a snag". Chipata, Zambia: Breeze FM Chipata. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Roads and Road Traffic Act | National Assembly of Zambia". www.parliament.gov.zm. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  16. ↑ "Luangwa River In Zambia". AfricanMecca Safaris. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  17. ↑ "Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria". Nature: Scientific Data. 23 October 2023.
  18. 1 2 "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Msekera". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Chipata MET Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved March 8, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.